This Layered Banana Split is a great, low-hassle, family-friendly dessert that also would be well received at a potluck (or even a tailgate, if you have a way of keeping it relatively chilled). You’ll love the stacks of sweet, creamy flavor, and you can keep it simple or “fancy it up” as much as you like!

I love making an elaborate dessert, now and then, but sometimes, it is those simple ones that keep me coming back for more. This layered banana split doesn’t even require any baking, and yet it has piles of sweet flavor that will win over people of all ages. I’ve served this a couple of times at family gatherings and it has been a huge success among the young and the old. Make sure you’ll get a portion of your own, before it’s gone!

Well, I Haven’t Had These Quite Like This Before – WOW!

Forget making them the plain way – kick the appetizer tray up a notch and make some Breaded Deep-Fried Deviled Eggs. Sure to wow your palate, neither you nor anyone else will be bored by these yummy treats.

These will be the center of attention at the dinner table, but not for long. They will be gone in a heartbeat! You could say that deviled eggs are victims of their own success in a way. Though they look just lovely on a plate and could hardly be said to taste bad as-is (if you like egg and a touch of spicy flavor, that is), they’ve become such a commonly seen and eaten item at parties and tailgates that they’re kind of a yawner. “Oh, okay, great. Now what’s next?”

Well, it turns out, with just a little twist (an extra step or two, basically), you can make this classic but a bit clichéd party food item into something extra-savory and exciting. I’ve made these for a few parties already, and they were a great success!

I LOVE these, with all my heart and soul.

Those Maryland crab cakes are a classic seafood treat, sure to be a winner as a part of any meal. These Panko Maryland Crab Cakes have a crust strong enough to hold everything together but light enough to let that delicious savory crabmeat flavor shine! They pair nicely with the Quick & Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce. I happen to love crab cakes. It’s really hard to go wrong with that great crab flavor for a good seafood dish, either as an appetizer or as part of the main meal.

Sadly, it is possible to mess up crabmeat; the most common mistake is to mix it with something that drowns out its great natural taste. This simple recipe deftly avoids that and is also kind enough to provide a great-tasting tartar sauce–no need to settle for the store-bought tartar, when you can make some yourself so quickly and easily.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Once Upon a Chef

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Quick tip: Make a double batch for a larger crowd (or just so you can have more yourself…)

Just a Few Easy Steps to a Filling, Yummy Meal

If you are looking for a healthier alternative to the usual heavy casserole options for dinner, try these Lean Beef Cabbage Rolls! They’re packed with fiber, lean protein, and great flavor, and they’re easy enough to make for a midweek meal. Not to mention they are so delicious that no-one is going to think of them as “health food”! I actually have always liked cabbage, in cole slaw or even relatively plain (as in corned beef and cabbage), but I know that it isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite vegetable – or favorite food, period.

In this form, however, even some of the staunchest cabbage critics will enjoy it. Moreover, though the ground beef used here is extra-lean, the dish has great multi-dimensional savory flavor. And you can switch it up by using ground chicken or turkey instead!

I’ve actually used ground turkey in mine before and the family couldn’t even tell the difference. It turned out really nice and only contained half the fat. What a score!

I Could Probably Wolf Down 20 in One Sitting, If I Didn’t Watch Myself!

What an easy recipe for your grill – and aside from the time to marinate, it won’t take you all that long to make, either. This Filipino Barbecue Pork on a Stick combines a touch of the exotic with all of the great familiar flavors of American BBQ. This is sure to be a hit at your next cookout or tailgate party, or maybe you’d just like to wow your friends and family with something amazingly delicious! I can never resist grabbing a couple of tasty skewers of barbecue chicken or pork when I see it at the Chinese buffet.

I was itching for an excuse to break out the grill another time or two, and I have to say I was rather well rewarded. Definitely worth staying outside for a moment, even if the weather is getting colder. Yum!

Plus, if you’re going to make this outside all you have to do is put your hat and gloves on if the weather is starting to get nippy. Trust me, it’ll be well worth the effort.

If you’re like me and you couldn’t imagine your life without shrimp and cheese, you will LOVE this New England Shrimp Chowder! And with the Cheddar Bay Biscuits and a simple salad, if you like, you have an easy full meal. This would be a big hit at parties, but you could make it for dinner at home most any night of the week without too much trouble.

When I first came across this recipe, I thought, “What a great idea for Halloween, without the pumpkin overload!” But there was no way that I could wait for something that looked so good. I love my seafood dishes, and how could I pass up trying something so easy to put together? It turned out so delicious that it deserves a place in our dinner rotation!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Musing Maine-iac.

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Quick Tip: You don’t have to serve this meal with Cheddar Bay Biscuits. In fact, you can use a regular slice of bread for dipping if you want.

Need a cake for a special occasion? This Black Forest Cake perfect for a festive event, but don’t be too modest to make this just to surprise your family! This cake is super-moist, loaded with great chocolate flavor, and topped with about the most light and heavenly whipped cream frosting imaginable. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

I don’t bake cakes often, but when I do, I like to pull out all the stops and put together something out-of-this-world to wow my guests. If you are going to bake something nice for company, you might as well go all-out, am I right? If you’re not that into chocolate or cherries, this may not be the cake for you, but if you are, you’ll fall in love with it.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Feed Your Temptations

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Quick tip: Don’t use your hands to decorate with the shaved chocolate, it will be sticky. Use a spoon instead.